Delivery mechanism for printing presses



Sept. 20, 1938.

w. K. ECKHARD DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTI NG PRESSES Filed June 9, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTQR ATTO R N EYS 3 Q i go] Sept. 20, 1938. i w. K. ECKHARD DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed June 9, 1936 4 Sheets-Shem INVENTOR ATTO R N EYS Sept. 20, 1938. w. K. ECKHARD DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed June 9, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Ill IllIInKnIII-l ATTORNEYS Sept. 20, 1938. w. K. ECKHARD DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed June 9, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR M KW ATTORN EYS Patented Sept. 20, 1938 PATENT OFFICE DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES William K. Eckhard, Westerly, R. I., assignor to C. B. Cot ell & Sons Company, Westerly, R. L, a corpora ion of Delaware Application June 9, 1936, Serial No. 84,269 6 Claims. (o1. zip-s8) My invention is directed to improvements in flat sheet deliveries for web printing presses whereby suction means may be effectively employed for taking the sheets from the sheet forwarding means and depositing them in one or more piles.

The object of my invention is to provide suction means operable to contact with the tail end of a sheet to depress, stop and release the sheet and thereby prevent the tendency to mark or mar the sheets during their delivery. This marking or marring of the sheets is liable to happen where mechanical means are employed for gripping the upper and undersides of the tail end of the sheet 15 for delivering it and this is particularly true where the sheets are printed without tail margins as is frequent at the present time.

My invention comprises, generally, suction means arranged to be brought into contact with 20 the underside of the tail end of a sheet as it is forwarded to its delivery point, depress the sheet and stop its travel and then release the sheet to permit it to fall without forward momentum onto its pile.

My invention more particularly comprises a plurality of suction nozzles arranged to travel in an endless path, first upwardly and forwardly into contact with the sheet, then downwardly to depress, stop and release the sheet, and finally 3o rearwardly, to complete their cycle.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings in connection with a two pile flat sheet delivery for a rotary web printing press.

' Fig. 1 represents in diagram a side elevation of so much of the web printing press and sheet delivery as includes my invention.

Fig. 2 represents on a larger scale a diagram showing four different positions of the suction 40 means in its endless travel.

Fig. 3 represents an outside view of the valve for controlling the suction means, the parts being shown in the positions they assume at the start and finish of the contact of the suction means 45 with the underside of the tail end of the sheet before it is depressed.

Fig. 4 represents a similar view with the parts in the positions they assume when the suction means has moved downwardly to depress, stop and 50 about to release the sheet.

Fig. 5 represents a similar view showing the parts in the positions they assume when the suction means is cut off and open to atmosphere at the beginning of its cycle.

5 Fig. 6 represents a'detail end view of the cam mechanism for controlling the movement and operation of the suction means.

Fig. 7 represents a detail side view of the same. Fig. 8 represents a detail vertical longitudinal section showing one of the suction nozzles and 6 its operating parts in the positions they assume as the suction nozzles are about to depress and stop the travel of the sheet.

Fig. 9 represents an end view of the same.

Fig. 10 represents a view similar to Fig. 8 with 10 the parts in the positions they assume as the suction nozzles are about to release the tail end of the sheet.

Fig. 11 represents a similar view with the parts in the positions they assume as the suction nozzles have returned to complete their cycle.

Fig. 12 represents a detail plan view of one of the suction nozzles.

Fig. 13 represents a longitudinal vertical section through the same. Fig. 14 represents a detail side elevation of the gear trains connecting the inner and outer sets of suction nozzles with each other and with their drive.

Fig. 15 represents a detail top plan view of the same.

The rotary web printing press is herein shown as arranged to print in four colors on one side of the web, the impression cylinder being denoted by l and the form cylinders by 2, 3, 4, 5. The web is denoted by 6 and the sheets cut from the web are denoted by l. The pair of rotary coacting cutters for severing the sheets from the web are denoted by 8, 9.

The inner horizontally disposed carrier Ill travels in an endless path and it is driven at the surface speed of the press.

The outer horizontally disposed carrier ll travels in an endless path and it is driven at a surface speed somewhat in excess of the surface speed of the press and the inner endless carrier.

A rotary transfer carrier I2 is interposed between the outer end of the inner endless carrier i0 and the inner end of the outer endless carrier ll.

Side grippers l3 on the inner endless carrier l0 serve to advance a web through the coacting rotary cutters 8, 9 to the head grippers I4 on the rotary transfer carrier l2, which head grippers in turn transfer the sheets cut from the 0 printed web to the head grippers IS on the outer endless carrier I l.

A horizontally disposed delivery carrier I6 travels in an endless path around the inner and' outer piles l I and i8, which delivery carrier travels at the surface speed of the outer endless carrier ll. This endless delivery carrier !6 is provided with spaced sheet supporting surfaces l9 arranged in the travel of the carrier to pass between the outer endless carrier H and the tops of the piles l7 and i8.

Suction means are employed for contacting with the undersides of the tail ends of the sheets as the sheets are forwarded by the grippers id of the endless delivery carrier ii-to points over their respective delivery piles i1 and I8, which suction means operate to take the sheets from the endless delivery carrier and deposit them upon their respective piles.

Each suction means is constructed, arranged and operated as follows: A plurality of suction nozzles (one only and its operating parts being shown and specifically described herein) are located in line across the delivery immediately back of their delivery pile. Each of these nozzles 20 is caused to travel in an endless path to complete its cycle of operation, as follows:. The horn 2! of the suction nozzle 20 is provided with a slide 22 which reciprocates on a tilting support 23 which is pivoted on its rear end at 24 to an uprising bracket 25 of the frame. This slide 22 is operatively connected by a rod 26 to a lever arm 21 fixed to a rock shaft 28. This shaft is rocked from a cam 29 fixed on a rotary shaft 30, through the lever arm 3i, connecting rod 32, lever arm 33 and lever arm M. This lever arm 36 carries a stud or roller which isyieldingly held in contact with the face of the rotary cam by the spring means 36.

The tilting support 23 is operatively connected by a rod 3'8 to a lever arm 38 fixed to .a rock shaft 39. This shaft is rocked from a cam dd fixed on the rotary shaft 30, through the lever arm H which carries a stud or roller 42 yieldingly held in contact with the face of the cam Mi by the spring means 43.

The means for applying and cutting ofi the suction is as follows: A valve is located in the suction line, one portion 44 of which line leads to a suitable pump (not shown herein) and the other portion 45 of which line leads across the delivery and is connected to the suction nozzles through flexible branch lines 46.

This valve comprises inner and outer stationary members 4i and 48 and an interposed rotary member 49 fixed to the rotary cam shaft 38 through the pin 50, hub 5! and set screw 52.

The inner stationary member M has the suction line ports 53, 54, and suction line portions 44, 45. The outer stationary valve member 58 has the atmospheric port 55. The interposed rotary valve member 49 has an elongated concentric port 56 having an offset portion 51, which port will, in the movement of the rotary valve member, open communication between the portions 44, 45 of the suction line, to apply suction to the nozzles 20 and at the proper time open the nozzle portion 45 of the suction line through the port 55 and ofiset portion 51 of the port 56, to atmosphere.

It will be understood that while there may be as many suction nozzles as desired, it is only necessary to employ one pair of cams 29 and 40 for each set.

Where a double pile delivery is employed, the inner and outer cam shafts 30 are each geared to a longitudinally disposed shaft 58 through a train of gears 59 to 68 inclusive. The shaft 58 is geared to the shaft 69 of the speed-up rotary carrier l2 through the train of gears Ill to 14 inclusive. This shaft 69 may be driven from the shaft 15 at the outer end of the inner endless carrier in through the gears 16, TI, to cause the rotary carrier H to travel at a considerably greater surface speed than that of the said endless carrier it. The gear 13 is fast on the shaft 88 at the inner end of the outer endless carrier 8 I so that this carrier is caused to travel at substantially the same surface speed as the rotary carrier i2. It will also be understood that the endless delivery carrier it may be driven at substantially the same surface speed as that of the endless carrier H by providing a gear 19 which is driven from the gear 13 through the gears and 8!.

Cams 82 and 83 are positioned to open alternate head grippers i5 on the outer endless carrier I! as their sheets reach points over their respective inner and outer delivery piles l7 and it.

In operation: as the printed web leaves the press it is engaged by successive side grippers Ed of the inner endless carrier it and advanced through the rotary cutters 8, 9 which sever the sheets i from the web. As the sheets are severed the head grippers M on the rotary carrier i2 grasp successive sheets, speed up their travel and transfer them to successive sets of head grippers i5 on the outer endless carrier Ii. These head grippers i5 advance the sheets outwardly over the inner and outer piles, the sheets at the same time being supported by successive sheet supporting surfaces id of the endless delivery carrier it, which surfaces travel along with and under the outer endless carrier it.

The alternate head grippers l5 are opened by their respective earns 82 and 83 to release the leading ends of their respective-sheets as the sheets reach positions over the inner and outer piles l? and i8 respectively.

As the leading ends of the sheets are released by the grippers B5 of the endless delivery carrier ii the suction nozzles 20 which have been moved upwardly and forwardly into contact with the undersides of the tail ends of their respective sheets are then moved downwardly to depress the tail ends of the sheets and stop the outward travel of the sheets. The suction nozzles will retain control of the sheets until the supporting surfaces as of the endless carrier it pass out from under the sheets. The suction nozzles are then caused to release the sheets by the movement of the suction control valve, and thus permit the sheets to be deposited upon their respective piles. The suction nozzles are then moved rearwardly to complete their cycle of movement and operation.

While I have shown the invention in connection with a double pile sheet delivery it is obvious that the cam mechanism can be successfully used to operate a single set of suction nozzles for a.

single pile delivery. It will also be understood that while I have described a gear mechanism for operatively connecting the several parts, any other suitable mechanism may be used for this purpose.

The delivery, except the suction means and its operating mechanism, shown, described, but not claimed herein, forms the subject matter of the copending application of Howard M. Barber, filed November 14, 1935, Serial No. 49,684.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention,-and hence I do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown and described, but

What I claim is:

1. A flat sheet delivery comprising a sheet delivery carrier traveling in an endless path, a suction line, suction nozzles located within the path of the endless delivery carrier and arranged to be brought upwardly into contact with the undersides of the tail ends of the sheets as the sheets are being forwarded by the endless delivery carrier, and coacting mechanisms arranged to move the nozzles in endless paths to engage, depress and release the sheets.

2. A fiat sheet delivery comprising a sheet delivery carrier traveling in an endless path, a suction line, suction nozzles located within the path of the delivery carrier and arranged to be brought upwardly into contact with the undersides of the tail ends of the sheets as the sheets are being forwarded by the endless delivery carrier, and coacting mechanisms arranged to move the nozzles in endless paths to engage, depress and release the sheets, said mechanisms including a control valve in the suction line.

3. A flat sheet delivery comprising a sheet delivery carrier traveling in an endless path, a suction line, suction nozzles located within the path of the delivery carrier and arranged to be brought upwardly into contact with the undersides of the tail ends of the sheets as the sheets are being forwarded by the endless delivery carrier, and coacting mechanisms arranged to move the nozzles in endless paths to engage, depress and release the sheets, said mechanisms including a rotary shaft and a control valve in the suction line, mounted on said shaft.

4. A flat sheet delivery comprising a sheet delivery carrier traveling in an endless path, a

suction line, suction nozzles located within the path of the delivery carrier and arranged to be brought upwardly into contact with the undersides of the tall ends of the sheets as the sheets are being forwarded by the endless delivery carrier, and coacting mechanisms arranged to move the nozzles in endless paths to engage, depress and release the sheets, said mechanisms including a rotary shaft driven from the endless delivery carrier and a control valve in the suction line, mounted on said shaft.

5. A flat sheet delivery comprising a sheet delivery carrier traveling in an endless path, a suction line, suction nozzles located within the path of the delivery carrier and arranged to be brought upwardly into contact with the undersides of the tail ends of the sheets as the sheets are being forwarded by the endless delivery carrier, and coacting mechanisms arranged to move the nozzles in endless paths to engage, depress and release the sheets, said mechanisms including a rotary shaft, a control valve in the suction line and two cams.

6. A flat sheet delivery comprising a sheet delivery carrier traveling in an endless path, a suction line, suction nozzles located within the path of the delivery carrier and arranged to be brought upwardly into contact with the undersides of the tail ends of the sheets as the sheets are being forwarded by the endless delivery carrier, and

coacting mechanisms arranged to move the nozzles in endless paths to engage, depress and release the sheets, said mechanisms including a rotary-shaft, a control valve in the suction line and two cams, the control valve and the two cams being all mounted on said rotary shaft.

WILLIAM K. ECKHARD. 

